Meet the Authors:
Deb Wills and Debra Martin Koma
Authors of
PassPorter's Walt Disney World for
Your Special Needs

This article
originally appeared in the November 8, 2005, Issue #320 of ALL EARS®(ISSN: 1533-0753)

To give
you an opportunity to get to know the authors behind the various Disney-related
books that are on the market, ALL EARS® runs an occasional series
called, originally enough, Meet the Authors. In addition to giving
you a little background on the authors, we also solicit questions from
our readers to pose to our subjects.

This edition
of Meet the Authors lets you get up close and personal with two writers
with whom we are already VERY familiar -- ALL EARS® Editors Deb
Wills and Debra Martin Koma. As you're probably aware, Deb and Deb's
first book, PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs, was
released on August 15. This book is much more than your ordinary Walt
Disney World travel guide -- it provides information on traveling to America's
favorite vacation destination with special requirements. But more than
focusing on travelers who have obvious physical special needs, such as
mobility or size issues or vision impairments, Deb and Deb looked at how
Walt Disney World can accommodate a variety of "invisible" needs
that vacationers may have. For example, the book contains information
for travelers with autism related disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, hearing impairments, special diets, allergies and asthma, heart
health concerns, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, cognitive disabilities,
motion sensitivity and fears. In addition, it offers tips and information
for seniors, or for those traveling while pregnant or with an infant.

Here's
a little bit about the two authors, along with their answers to your questions:

You're familiar
with Deb Wills as the force behind AllEars.Net, a website that she
began nearly 10 years ago as Deb's Disney Digest, and as editor-in-chief
of ALL EARS®, a weekly electronic newsletter that goes to more than
66,000 subscribers. But did you know that Deb first fell under the spell
of Disney magic as a little girl growing up in New Jersey? Like many her
age, Deb was entranced with Walt Disney himself and his groundbreaking
television shows, and had the chance to visit the 1964-65 World's Fair
in New York, enjoying the original debut of It's a Small World and the
GE Carousel of Progress. She made her first visit to the Magic Kingdom
in 1972, and subsequently returned many times in her position as a rehabilitation
assistant with a vacation travel program for special needs adults. Since
then, Deb has paid countless visits to the "World" and has sailed
on the Disney Cruise Line eight times.

Pittsburgh-born
freelance writer and editor Debra Martin Koma came to love Walt Disney
World at a much later age. Although she visited Disneyland as a toddler,
and was a devoted Mouseketeer of the original Mickey Mouse Club, Deb didn't
visit Walt Disney World until she was an adult with a child of her own.
Though she was somewhat reluctant to make the journey to Orlando initially,
five minutes into her first visit to the Magic Kingdom she knew she never
wanted to leave. She's returned more than 30 times in the ensuing years
despite the raised eyebrows and questioning looks from non-believing family
and friends.

After
meeting in cyberspace (through a Usenet newsgroup) in early 1997, the
two eventually realized that they weren't that far apart from each other
geographically, and they met "in real life" later that year.
(We would say that the rest is history, but we don't think the story of
the two Debs has been completely written yet.)

Working together
for the past several years, Deb and Deb have enthusiastically shared their
passion for Walt Disney World with others through AllEarsNet.com and ALL
EARS®. Both have been peer reviewers of the PassPorter Walt Disney
World Resort guidebooks for the past several years, while Deb Wills recently
joined the review group for PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise
Line.

When PassPorter
publishers Jennifer and Dave Marx approached Deb and Deb with the idea
of co-authoring a book about traveling to Walt Disney World with special
needs, they both jumped at the opportunity. A breast cancer survivor who
is active in raising funds and awareness, as well as in other civic causes,
Deb Wills realized that this project would be the perfect link between
her past and present interests. Having grown up with siblings who had
a variety of health issues, Deb Koma, too, was anxious to participate
in this project, which has the potential to spread some "pixie dust"
to those who face special challenges when traveling.

Researching
and writing this book proved to be more of a challenge for the two than
they initially thought it would be. But they are convinced that the resultant
PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs, which they hope
will help so many fully enjoy the Most Magical Place on Earth, was well
worth the effort.

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Q &
A:

ALL EARS®
asked readers to send in their questions about the new special needs book:

Linda
M. from Florida: I really am only interested in certain parts of the book
-- I don't need to read about mobility and wheelchairs, for example. How
do I know what information in the book is for me and my special need,
or do I need to read through the whole thing?

THE DEBS:
While we think that the entire book is informative and worth reading,
we designed the book so you can easily find information that is pertinent
to your specific interest. Each special need is assigned its own icon
or symbol -- for example, Pregnancy is represented by the letter [E] (for
Expecting); [V] is for Vision Impairments. For information geared to individuals
with certain special needs, you should be able to easily skim through
the pages looking for the appropriate symbols.

Belle
M. from Texas: I never thought of myself as having a special need, but
when I look at the list on your book's cover, I see you include pregnancy
and traveling with an infant, both of which could have applied to me.
What type of information do you have on those subjects?

THE DEBS:
We have quite a lot of information for pregnant women travelers, from
tips on what to pack to make traveling a little more comfortable, to which
rides are not appropriate. We also offer advice for traveling with the
littlest of Disney fans, such as quiet spots for nursing, convenient places
for diaper changes, and tips on the Rider Switch program (commonly known
as "child swap"). In addition to input from many members of
our peer review team, we were fortunate to have the added wisdom of our
publisher Jennifer Marx, who traveled to Walt Disney World several times
over the last few years as a pregnant woman, and subsequently with an
infant.

disneyfreak:
I was wondering how much info you allot for each "special need"
in your new book. For example, a friend of mine has celiac and is somewhat
concerned about dining in Disney. I know from reading your wonderful website
that most of the Disney restaurants cater to celiac needs, and was curious
if you've included the names of the restaurants and phone numbers who
she can contact while she is there.

Sue R
from St. Louis, MO: I'm interested to know if there is any information
about gluten-free dining at the World in your Special Needs book? I've
read the wonderful article on the ALL EARS® website, and I wondered
if the book will quote that, or will there be any more or different information?

THE DEBS:
We tried to be as thorough as possible for each of the special needs that
we addressed in the book. If you pick it up, you'll see that we didn't
skimp on the info -- it's 400 pages long! As far as special dietary concerns,
such as celiac disease, Disney really excels in this area. Most of their
chefs at the table service restaurants are extremely accommodating. In
fact, even the chefs at the resort food courts seem to enjoy the challenge
of preparing special meals, as long as they have enough advance notice.
Disney generally suggests that you alert the reservationist of your requirements
at the time you make your reservations, and then call again about 72 hours
in advance. We've also found that it doesn't hurt to mention your special
requests as you're being seated at the restaurants. Quite often a chef
will be sent out to speak to you to determine specifically what you can
and cannot eat. While we don't include the phone numbers of every Disney
restaurant, we do have some specific information on who to contact in
the theme parks for special diet information and how to go about making
sure the eating establishments are aware of your needs.

Lee Z.:
I have some dietary issues -- I'm trying to eat low-carb. Will the Disney
chefs even try to help me out? Should I attempt to contact the restaurants
in advance, or will most restaurants be able to accommodate me on the
spot? Are there some restaurants that are more "friendly" about
that than others?

THE DEBS:
Disney does try to accommodate all special diets, even those that
might be considered "lifestyle" choices, rather than allergy
or health-related. We considered all manner of special dietary issues
in the book: health-related diets, such as gluten-free; lifestyle choices,
such as vegetarian or vegan; even religion-related diets, such as kosher.
For instance, we evaluated all the table service and counter service eateries
on Disney property and point out whenever we found any that specifically
have gluten-free or kosher foods. As we said above, Disney advises you
to contact 407-WDW-DINE with your special dining requests at least 72
hours in advance. That's primarily for the table service restaurants.
If you want to make special requests at a counter service spot, we've
found that the best thing to do is to visit the place early in the day,
before the lunch rush. Ask to speak to a manager, who will often let you
speak to a chef. If they can possibly meet your special requests, they
will. This is also true at the resort food courts. We found that if you
talk to the chefs early in the day, when they're not busy, they are more
than happy to work with you, no matter whether your need is for a dairy-free
meal, or for 15 kosher dinners for an evening family gathering.

Brian
from DC: I'm a rather large guy, both tall and around. Your website's
"At Large" pages have helped me in the past know which rides
I might have trouble fitting into. What more could the book tell me?

THE DEBS:
In the book we go into quite a bit of detail about which types of attraction
seating will accommodate people of both larger, and, for that matter smaller,
sizes. Not only do we evaluate each and every show and ride for its seating
type, we also take into account the entrances, turnstiles and other areas
where size might be an issue. We also discuss all the restaurants on Disney
property, in many cases outlining the types of seating available at the
various locations. We also take into account the Disney resort hotels,
as they relate to issues of size. In fact, we evaluate all the resorts
and restaurants on how they will affect most special needs. Finally, because
a number of our peer reviewers have experience in dealing with size issues,
we incorporate their tips and first-hand stories about how Disney accommodates
people of size. We were able to do this for most special needs, as a matter
of fact.

Nancy
from New Brunswick, Canada: Can I take my wheelchair or scooter on the
Disney boats?

THE DEBS:
That
question actually has a rather ambivalent answer -- it depends. If you're
talking about the boats used in many Disney attractions, such as Jungle
Cruise or Living with the Land, sometimes you can, and sometimes you can't.
Some attractions, like "it's a small world," have special boats
that are wheelchair accessible -- you can ride your wheelchair right onto
the boat. Others require you to get out of your chair and sit in the attraction
seat. If you're talking about the boats that Disney employs for transportation
around the resort, that also depends -- on the chair, on the boat, and
on the water level. If your chair/ECV (Electric Convenience Vehicle or
scooter) is a standard size, you can usually board the boat with it. If,
however, your chair/ECV is oversized, or if the water level is too low
or too high, you might not be able to board. In addition, some of the
smaller launches Disney uses around the Magic Kingdom area resorts cannot
accommodate wheelchairs/ECVs.

Beth from
Rochester: I've heard that some people just get wheelchairs so they can
go to the head of the line. Will I need a note from my doctor to prove
that I need to rent a wheelchair or scooter?

THE DEBS:
First
of all, one thing that we learned in researching this book is that many
people have special needs that are invisible. Folks who have fibromyalgia
and chronic fatigue syndrome, for example, find it impossible to be on
their feet all day, especially in the hot Florida weather. So just because
you see someone using a wheelchair who seems to be "normal,"
you shouldn't assume that they don't need it. Secondly, all wheelchair
users don't automatically get sent to the front of the line any more.
Most attraction queues have been widened so that they can accommodate
wheelchairs and ECVs. If you're in a wheelchair or ECV, you may be directed
to the FastPass line (for ride access), but that is not for every attraction.
And finally, no, you don't need a doctor's note to rent a wheelchair or
ECV.

Alex from
Virginia: My child was just diagnosed with ADHD. I've heard that there
is a special pass that some people with special needs can get that will
get them special treatment, maybe even let them bypass the regular line.
That would be great for us. How do I go about getting one?

THE DEBS:
You're probably referring to what's known as the Guest Assistance Card,
or GAC. Guest Assistance Cards are available on a case by case basis at
Guest Relations for each of the four main theme parks. These cards are
not for wheelchair users, but are for individuals who may require special
accommodations for "invisible" conditions. If you are unable
to stand or walk for long periods, Walt Disney World suggests you rent
a wheelchair or ECV. To obtain a GAC, let the Cast Member at Guest Relations
know what special accommodations are required, being as specific as possible.
For example, you might explain that your child is unable to wait in noisy,
crowded conditions due to becoming agitated and overstimulated, and that
you require an alternative place to wait. A doctor's note is not required,
but can sometimes be helpful, so you might want to bring one along. (We
have a sample of an appropriate doctor's note in the book.) Again, your
physician needs to explain what Disney can do that will help you, not
merely tell what your condition or special need is. When you get a GAC,
it is good at all four theme parks for the duration of your trip -- you
won't need to get one at each park. Simply show it to the Cast Member
at the entrance to the attractions when you arrive.

Peggy
Stevens: As the mother of an autistic 8-year-old boy, your website's information
has been INVALUABLE for the past few years (and seven trips to WDW!).
It truly is the Happiest Place on Earth for our little guy. Will your
book have any info regarding the seasonal functions -- specifically Mickey's
Not So Scary Halloween Party -- with autistic kids?

THE DEBS:
We have a wealth of information on touring the parks with children who
have autism spectrum disorders, from tips on waiting in line to strategies
for dealing with melt-downs. We do have some information on the seasonal
events, but nothing specific for the events as they pertain to autistic
children. This is an area that we will need to expand on in the next edition
of the book.

Donna
S. from New York: Does Disney have any ride restrictions for guests who
have casts on their arms or legs?

THE DEBS:
There are no official guidelines for vacationers who have casts, just
common sense rules. If you're going on water rides, you'll want to wrap
the cast in a plastic bag, or maybe even a poncho, to help keep it dry.
If you have a leg cast, you won't want to try climbing the Swiss Family
Tree House or other attractions that require a lot of walking and climbing
or uneven ground (Tom Sawyer Island springs to mind), and you may want
to consider renting a wheelchair or ECV.

Linda
from Maryland: Do you have anything about people with Albinism? They have
no pigment in their skin and therefore have to protect their skin and
eyes from the sun.

THE DEBS:
We
don't have anything specifically about Albinism in the book. Although
we tried to make the book as inclusive as possible, we were not able to
address every single special need that exists -- if we tried, the book
would be three times as long as it is now! (And, at 400 pages, it's already
pretty hefty.) We do feel, though, that the needs that we addressed cross
multiple lines, and that even if your specific special need does not have
its own chapter in the book, there still may be quite a lot of information
in it that would be applicable to you. For example, we don't specifically
address Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, a disorder in which the individual
has reactions to a wide range of chemicals. But we do have a chapter devoted
to Allergies and Asthma, and believe that many of our suggestions and
the information contained there would be relevant.

Laura:
How long did it take you to research and write this book? Also, in writing
the book, what do you feel are the most interesting things that you learned?
What surprised you the most?

THE DEBS:
We
actually began talking about developing a book on traveling to Walt Disney
World with special needs with PassPorter Travel Press's Jennifer and Dave
Marx about two and a half years ago (over a friendly dinner at the California
Grill). After developing a plan and a table of contents, we realized it
was going to be a much bigger project than we had initially estimated,
but we finally began writing and researching in earnest last August (2004).
We pulled together a team of peer reviewers, made up of friends and acquaintances
who themselves have experienced Walt Disney World with a variety of the
special needs addressed in the book. After all the research, writing,
and reviews, the book was officially released on August 15, 2005. One
of the things that surprised us the most was how MANY different types
of special needs people have to deal with. We thought we were sensitive
to those around us, but as we learned about the variety of challenges
that travelers with special needs have to overcome, we grew even more
determined to make this book as all-encompassing and as useful as possible.
Life is not "one size fits all." Everyone has special needs
at one time or another, or has traveled with someone who has. We're happy
to report that Walt Disney World seems to realize that and does its best
to make sure that everyone who visits feels special. We hope with this
book will allow readers to see that they, too, can enjoy Walt Disney World,
confident that their dream vacations will be, as the commercials say,
truly "magical."

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Want to hear
more about the book from the authors themselves? Listen to a podcast they
recorded for WDW Today, podcast #19:http://wdwtoday.com

To read more
about PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs, or to place
an order, visit:

REMINDER:
Deb Wills and Deb Koma will be at MouseFest 2005 at Walt Disney World
in December. Be sure to visit them at the Mega Mouse Meet on December
3 -- bring your copy of PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special
Needs to be autographed by the authors. For details on MouseFest 2005,
visit: http://mousefest.org

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Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to
confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.